Introduction Our story, made by Egyptians, was called Osiris and Isis. They are both gods, Osiris being the ruler of the dead, and Isis his wife. The Egyptians believed greatly in immortality after death, and struggled all their lives to obtain it. Osiris was the gatekeeper of the dead, and he would determine if you would pass into heaven or hell. In this particular myth, Osiris is killed by his brother Set. Since he is the first to live in the underworld, he becomes the ruler of the dead. Our myth explains the Egyptians attitude towards death and immortality, and how not even the gods were immortal until after death. The idea of life after death is crucial to understanding the Egyptian's religious beliefs and customs.
Summary
In the myth Osiris and Isis a story is told about jealousy. One day Set told the people at a party that the one who could fit in a certain coffin perfectly would get to keep it. Little did Osiris know that it was meant to exactly fit him. As soon as he stepped in Set nailed it shut and sent him down the Nile. Needless to say he died. He was used as a pillar in the king’s castle, but Isis went and got him. Set was infuriated and ripped him into fourteen pieces and scattered these pieces all over Egypt. Isis found all but one piece, and put Osiris back together. However, since he was not fully alive, he was sent to the underworld and became ruler there. In other mythological stories such as the shipwrecked sailor the Nile was a source. Expeditions were taken up the river. I believe that the Nile River is the reflection of the Egyptian culture. The Nile was used in numerous stories throughout Egypt. In Egyptian myths nature is a big part, including the Nile. The Nile brought death along with prosperity.
Cultural Analysis The Egyptiansbelieved strongly in life after death. They struggled all their lives to gain immortality, which was gained after death. They believed if they lived a good life, they would pass into heaven. However, if their heart was weighed down with bad deeds it would fall into the jaws of the beast Ammut, who would devour their heart. Our story connects to this belief because Osiris was believed to be the gatekeeper of the dead. He decided everyone's fate, whether you were good or evil, if you went to heaven or hell. Even pharoes were not secured immortality. They had to live virtuous lives as well. Their families only had to hope the pharoes would take them to heaven too.
There was also a text called the Book of the Dead that defined life as good and bad. The Book of the Dead contained many scriptures and hymns. If you followed the Book of the Dead's rules and teachings you would go to heaven and gain immortality. There were some monks who tried to distort the teachings. They translated the Book of the Dead, and twisted the words to say that as long as you performed certain rituals, you would go to heaven. They used this as an excuse to do bad things and still go to heaven. This made the rest of the world look down on Egypt, thinking they were barbaric, since they performed these erratic rituals to gain immortality.
Cultural Comparison
How does Egyptian culture relate to Greek and Roman mythology? What are some of the Archetypes that the gods share? Is Egyptian mythology Mono or Polytheistic? Egyptians are firm believers in life after death. They believe that once you die if you preserve the body it will be able to move on to the next life. The Greeks and Romans also believe in life after death. They believe that unless you get a proper burial you won’t move on to the next life. The Egyptians have many gods making them polytheistic. Both the Egyptians and the Greeks have a different god for different jobs, blessings, seasons, or conditions etc… Each God also has an archetype. Osiris is the god of the cycles of life, which makes him a Judge archetype because he decides if you are worthy of a second life or not. Zeus is also a judge deciding what punishment fits a crime. Set is the Destroyer because he wants to gain power and will destroy anything in his path to get it. Isis is the earth mother archetype like Athena because they both care about the earth and protect its inhabitants.
This is a picture of Isis on the left and Horus on the right.
Remler, Pat. "myth of Isis and Osiris." Egyptian Mythology A to Z, Revised Edition. Mythology A to Z. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Ancient and Medieval History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE49&iPin=EGMAZ212&SingleRecord=True (accessed September 23, 2008).
Remler, Pat. "mythology, Egyptian." Egyptian Mythology A to Z, Revised Edition. Mythology A to Z. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Ancient and Medieval History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE49&iPin=EGMAZ001&SingleRecord=True (accessed September 24, 2008).
Remler, Pat. "immortality in Egyptian mythology." Egyptian Mythology A to Z, Revised Edition. Mythology A to Z. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Ancient and Medieval History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE49&iPin=EGMAZ208&SingleRecord=True (accessed October 1, 2008).
Boucquey, Thierry, gen. ed. "Book of the Dead." Encyclopedia of World Writers, Beginnings through the 13th Century. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. Ancient and Medieval History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE49&iPin=EWWI0051&SingleRecord=True (accessed October 1, 2008).
"Mummy of Ramesses II." Library of Congress. Prints and Photographs Division. Part of G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection. Photograph. Ancient and Medieval History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE49&iPin=AMH107&SingleRecord=True (accessed October 1, 2008).
Our story, made by Egyptians, was called Osiris and Isis. They are both gods, Osiris being the ruler of the dead, and Isis his wife. The Egyptians believed greatly in immortality after death, and struggled all their lives to obtain it. Osiris was the gatekeeper of the dead, and he would determine if you would pass into heaven or hell. In this particular myth, Osiris is killed by his brother Set. Since he is the first to live in the underworld, he becomes the ruler of the dead. Our myth explains the Egyptians attitude towards death and immortality, and how not even the gods were immortal until after death. The idea of life after death is crucial to understanding the Egyptian's religious beliefs and customs.
Summary
In the myth Osiris and Isis a story is told about jealousy. One day Set told the people at a party that the one who could fit in a certain coffin perfectly would get to keep it. Little did Osiris know that it was meant to exactly fit him. As soon as he stepped in Set nailed it shut and sent him down the Nile. Needless to say he died. He was used as a pillar in the king’s castle, but Isis went and got him. Set was infuriated and ripped him into fourteen pieces and scattered these pieces all over Egypt. Isis found all but one piece, and put Osiris back together. However, since he was not fully alive, he was sent to the underworld and became ruler there. In other mythological stories such as the shipwrecked sailor the Nile was a source. Expeditions were taken up the river. I believe that the Nile River is the reflection of the Egyptian culture. The Nile was used in numerous stories throughout Egypt. In Egyptian myths nature is a big part, including the Nile. The Nile brought death along with prosperity.
Cultural Analysis
The Egyptians believed strongly in life after death. They struggled all their lives to gain immortality, which was gained after death. They believed if they lived a good life, they would pass into heaven. However, if their heart was weighed down with bad deeds it would fall into the jaws of the beast Ammut, who would devour their heart. Our story connects to this belief because Osiris was believed to be the gatekeeper of the dead. He decided everyone's fate, whether you were good or evil, if you went to heaven or hell. Even pharoes were not secured immortality. They had to live virtuous lives as well. Their families only had to hope the pharoes would take them to heaven too.
There was also a text called the Book of the Dead that defined life as good and bad. The Book of the Dead contained many scriptures and hymns. If you followed the Book of the Dead's rules and teachings you would go to heaven and gain immortality. There were some monks who tried to distort the teachings. They translated the Book of the Dead, and twisted the words to say that as long as you performed certain rituals, you would go to heaven. They used this as an excuse to do bad things and still go to heaven. This made the rest of the world look down on Egypt, thinking they were barbaric, since they performed these erratic rituals to gain immortality.
Cultural Comparison
How does Egyptian culture relate to Greek and Roman mythology? What are some of the Archetypes that the gods share? Is Egyptian mythology Mono or Polytheistic? Egyptians are firm believers in life after death. They believe that once you die if you preserve the body it will be able to move on to the next life. The Greeks and Romans also believe in life after death. They believe that unless you get a proper burial you won’t move on to the next life. The Egyptians have many gods making them polytheistic. Both the Egyptians and the Greeks have a different god for different jobs, blessings, seasons, or conditions etc… Each God also has an archetype. Osiris is the god of the cycles of life, which makes him a Judge archetype because he decides if you are worthy of a second life or not. Zeus is also a judge deciding what punishment fits a crime. Set is the Destroyer because he wants to gain power and will destroy anything in his path to get it. Isis is the earth mother archetype like Athena because they both care about the earth and protect its inhabitants.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Ithaca/4396/stories.htm
Remler, Pat. "myth of Isis and Osiris." Egyptian Mythology A to Z, Revised Edition. Mythology A to Z. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Ancient and Medieval History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE49&iPin=EGMAZ212&SingleRecord=True (accessed September 23, 2008).
Remler, Pat. "mythology, Egyptian." Egyptian Mythology A to Z, Revised Edition. Mythology A to Z. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Ancient and Medieval History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE49&iPin=EGMAZ001&SingleRecord=True (accessed September 24, 2008).
Remler, Pat. "immortality in Egyptian mythology." Egyptian Mythology A to Z, Revised Edition. Mythology A to Z. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Ancient and Medieval History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE49&iPin=EGMAZ208&SingleRecord=True (accessed October 1, 2008).
Boucquey, Thierry, gen. ed. "Book of the Dead." Encyclopedia of World Writers, Beginnings through the 13th Century. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. Ancient and Medieval History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE49&iPin=EWWI0051&SingleRecord=True (accessed October 1, 2008).
"Mummy of Ramesses II." Library of Congress. Prints and Photographs Division. Part of G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection. Photograph. Ancient and Medieval History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE49&iPin=AMH107&SingleRecord=True (accessed October 1, 2008).